Concrete form apparatus



June 17, 1969 FONTAINEI 3,

FIG.

INVENTOR. LAMAR FONTAI/VE' Sheet of 2 L. FONTAINE v CONCRETE FORM APPARATUS June 17, 1969 Filed March 13, 1967 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 249-45 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A form apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to be assembled and disassembled and temporarily used in the construction of a concrete wall. The apparatus includes a plurality of modular wall panels, connector means for joining the panels together in edgewise relationship and tie means for tying the wall panels together. Each of the tie means includes a rod-like shank part and a tubular handle part fitted over the shank part. In addition, each of the tie means includes bayonet lock-type tie groove portions which coactingly engage respectively inward and outward pairs of tie dogs secured respectively On the inward and outward connector assemblies. In addition, the form apparatus includes inward and outward waler means for reinforcing the wall panels.

This disclosure relates to concrete form apparatus adapted to be assembled and disassembled and temporarily used in the construction of a concrete wall. The disclosure includes substantially all the components for erecting a double-wall concrete Wall form and includes parts for forming inward and outward parallel paneled sectional walls and tie means for rigidly and releasably tying the inward and outward sectional walls together in corresponding confrontingly spaced relationship.

The inward and outward form walls cast or form respectively the inward and outward side surfaces of the poured and finished conrete wall. The tie means rigidly space the form walls apart at a desired distance for forming a concrete wall of a desired thickness. Each inward and outward form wall is made up of a plurality of modular flat wall panels and a plurality of connector assemblies'which edgewise join the wall panels together; each connector assembly is hingle-like and includes a pair of connector halves hinged together; each conector assembly is removably attached to and hingedly edgewise conmeets two adjacent wall panels.

The tie means for tying the inward and outward panel sectioned walls together include a plurality of elongated horizontal tie assemblies with each assembly including a rod-like shank partand a tubular handle part fitted over the' shank part; each tie assembly directly engages and connects a corresponding pair of horizontally spaced connector assemblies, including a connector assembly of the inward form wall and a connector assembly of the outward form wall. Each tie assembly includes inward and outward bayonet lock type tie groove portions which coactingly engage respectively inward and outward pairs of tie dogs secured respectively on the inward and outward connector assemblies.

In assembling or erecting the form apparatus preparatoy to pouring the concrete wall, the shank part of each tie assembly is thrust through the inner sectional form wall and joined with the outer sectional form wall; the tie assembly is locked in place by rotating the assembly onequarter turn and simultaneously engaging the inward and outward bayonet lock type tie groove portions respectively with the tie pins of the onward and outward connector assemblies.

The form apparatus also includes inward and outward waler means for reinforcing the inward and outward wall panels. The waler means reinforces each panel against outward deflection when the concrete is being poured and when the fluid concrete tends to force the inward and outward deflection when the concrete is being poured and when the fluid concrete tends to force the inward and outward sectional wall panel apart. The Walter means include waler lobes integrally secured respectivey on each connector assembly and include straight angle iron waler members adjustably and separably engageable with the waler lobes of each connector assembly. Each waler member is adapted to span two or more connector assemblies on the outside of the inward and outward walls and to be adjustably removably secured by the waler lobe projections of each connector assembly.

An object of the invention is to provide form apparatus consisting of accurately made modular components which may be unerringly assembled to provide form structures of accurate dimensions and theby form finished oncrete structures of accurate dimensions.

An object is to provide a form apparatus which may be rapidly and accurately erected by inexperienced workmen.

Another object is to provide a form apparatus having does not include small, fragile or sleazy parts which are easily lost or deformed and such as may delay the erection of the form or impair the alignment of the erected form.

Another object is to provide form apparatus utilizing a much fewer number of connecting inner and outer wall ties as compared with other currently used wall form apparatuses.

Another object is to provide a form apparatus having larger wall panels and fewer joints between the panels, and tight joints thereby minimizing the time and cost of erecting the form and minimizing the cost of stripping or disassembling the form from the cured and finished concrete structure.

A further object is to provide a form appartus having comparatively fewer tie holes left in the cured concrete, and smaller seam markings left in the concrete from the panel joints, and such that renders the cured concrete wall substantially free of imperfections thereby requiring only minimum finishing time by the concrete finishing workmen.

A further object is to provide a form apparatus having readily adjustable tie means which may be quickly and easily adjusted for forming concrete walls of various thickness.

A further object is to provide a very versatile form apparatus which may be used for forming inside and outside corners, or for forming circular tubular structures such as silos, smoke stacks and the like.

A further object is to provide a form aparatus having reusable components, thereby etfecting economy in construction.

A further object i toprovide a form apparatus which includes substantially al the components necessary for the erection of a concrete wall, and which'does not require the use of wooden 2 X 4s, planking, bracing or other temporarily used wooden structures.

A further object is to provide a form apparatus having standardized reusable components and such as may promote job site or construction site cleanliness.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the form wall apparatus shown in an erected configuration (as viewed from the inside of the form) and showing only that portion of a straight wall form sufiicient to illustrate the fundamental elements of the invention.

FIG. 2. is a horizontal plane sectional view taken as on the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line IVIV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an inward connector assembly hingedly connecting two adjacent inward panels (fragmentarily shown) together.

FIG. 6 is a vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line VI-VI of FIG. 5 and additionally illustrating the angle iron waler members in broken lines.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the bayonet lock type tie groove of a tie assembly.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal plane fragmentary sectional view of the form apparatus as erected for use in forming a circular concrete wall.

In the drawings the form apparatus is illustrated in an erected configuration; the drawings include only that portion of an erected wall form necessary to illustrate the basic or fundamental parts of the apparatus. It is, of course, obvious that each component of the various components shown will vary in number according to the concre'te wall construction; many wall panels, tie assemblies, and waler members will be employed and their number and specific arrangement will vary according to the particular concrete wall configuration.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two vertical parallel form walls including an inward form wall 11 and an outward form wall 11' and also illustrate tie means 13, 15 interconnecting walls 11, 11. Inward form wall 11 includes three wall panels 17, 19, and 21 (19 and 21 being fragmentarily shown) and two connector assemblies 23, 25 connecting the respective wall panels together. Likewise, outward form wall 11' includes three panels 17, 19', and 21 (panels 19' and 21 being fragmentarily shown) and two connector assemblies 23 and 25' connecting the respective panels together. T ie means 13, 15 include re-" spectively elongated tie assemblies 27, 29.

For purposes of clarity in description, only two wall panels and one connector assembly will be specifically described for each form wall of the inward and outward formwalls, and only one tie assembly will be specifically described; the inward form wall will be described principally as including a right panel 17, a left panel 19, and a connector assembly 23; the outward form wall will be described principally as including a right panel 17', a left panel 19, and a connector assembly 23'; tie assembly 27 adjustably connects connector assemblies 23, 23' and will be described in detail. I

In like manner, the following description will be directed toward waler means including only an inward waler member 31 and an outward waler member 31.

Inward and outward form wall panels 17, 17 and 19, 19' are preferably formed of sheet plywood and are formed of various sizes. Each panel is modular and is adapted to correspondingly fit another or other panels.

Inward and outward connector assemblies 23, 23 are substantially alike, and the following description of connector 23 will sufiice also for a description of assembly 23': Inward connector assembly 23 is hinge-like and includes a like pair of connector halves including a right connector half 33 and a left connector half 35. A pair of convergingly projecting pins 37, 37 hingedly join connector halves 33, 35. Right and left connector halves 33, 35 are each preferably formed of die cast metal. Right connector half 33 includes a substantially flat plate-like main portion 39 and a pair of parallel arranged hinge boss portions 41, 41; left connector half 35 in like manner includes a main portion 43 and a pair of hinge boss portions 45, 45. The paired hinge bosses 41, 41 and 45, 45 respectively of right and left connector halves 33, 35 are respectively offset vertically relative to the longitudinal horizontal centerline of each connector half (see FIGS. 1 and 5). By casting the paired hinge bosses of each connector half offset from the longitudinal center line of the half, the right and left connector halves 33, 35 may be of identical configuration.

Pins 37, 37 are each of the headed threaded type and each include a shouldered proximal portion 47, a threaded medial portion 49, and a distal dog portion 51. One hinge boss portion of each connector half is threaded to receive the threaded medial portion 49 of a respective pin 37; the other hinge boss portion of that connector half is of larger diameter relative to the threaded boss portion and is adapted to freely turnably engage the shouldered proximal portion 47 of a pin 37. Shouldered portion 47 of each pin 37 is slightly longer than the thickness of a respective hinge boss 41; this permits free hinge-pivot movement between right and left connector halves 33, 35 when headed pins 37, 37 are tight and the connector halves joined. The convergingly projecting distal dog portions 51, 51 of paired pins 37, 37 comprise the fixed elements of tie means 13 and do not per se constitute a part of connector assembly 23.

Fastener means including right and left tapered shank screws 53, 53 removably fasten right and left connector halves 33, 35 respectively to the vertical edge portions of right and left inward panels 17, 19. Horizontally spaced adjustment holes 55, 57 and 59 are provided respectively in main portions 39, 43 of right and left connector halves 33, 35. Screws 53, 53 extend respectively through selected holes 55, 57, 59 and engage threaded apertures 61, 63 respectively in right and left wall panels 17, 19. Screws 53 are adapted to extend selectively through holes 55, 57 or 59 for edgewise joining panels 17, 19 in either straight wall configuration or inside or outside corner configuration.

Screws 53, 53 are threadedly inserted through holes 55, 55 of connector halves 33, 35 when panels 17, 19 are to be arranged in a straight 180 arrangement; screws 53 are threadedly inserted through holes 57, 57 for arranging panels 17, 19 in a 90 inside corner arrangement (not shown); screws 53, 53 are adapted to be threadedly inserted through holes 59, 59 for arranging panels '17, 19 in a 270 outside corner arrangement (not shown). Semi-circular tie recesses 65, 67 are provided respectively in the marginal edge portion of wall panels 17, 19. Wall panels semi-circular tie recesses 65, 67 are correspondingly arranged and form a circular recess for the reception of elongated horizontal tie assembly 27.

Elongated tie assembly 27 constitutes the movable elements of tie means 13 and that part which is adapted to be turnably manipulated for releasably securing inward and outward walls 11 and 11 together. Tie assembly 27 includes a diametrically spaced inward pair of tie groove portions 69, 69 and a diametrically spaced outward pair of tie groove portions 69', 69 spaced longitudinally distant from and correspondingly arranged radially relative to the inward pair of tie groove portions. Tie means 13 is operative by manually manipulating tie assembly 27 and simultaneously treleasably engaging respectively inward and outward tie groove portions 69, 69, 69', 69' with inward and outward dog portions 51, 51, 51', 51' of headed pins 37, 37, 37', 37'.

Tie assembly 27 includes a rod-like shank part 71 including a cylindrical proximal portion 73 and a tapered distal portion 75. Tie assembly 27 includes a handle part 77 including a tubular handle body 79 having proximal and distal portions 81, 83 and a handle lever 85 perpendicularly fixed on tubular handle body proximal portion 81. Shank part 71 and handle part 77 are conjoined with tubular handle body 79 being concentrically loosely fitted on shank part proximal portion 73 and with the proximal and distal portions respectively of the shank and handle part body being axially correspondingly arranged. Inward pair of tie groove portions 69, 69 are preferably formed in the tip portion of distal portion 83 of tubular handle body 79. Outward pair of tie groove portions 69', 69' are formed in the tip portion of distal tapered portion 75 of shank part 71. Each groove portion of inward and outward pairs of tie groove portions 69, 69, 69', 69 is generally L-shaped and includes a longitudinally extending portion respectively 87, 87, 87', 87' and a concentrically transversely extending lock portion respectively 89, 89, 89', 89'. It will be noted that inward pair of tie groove portions 69, 69 may also be considered as diametrically arranged L-shaped slots formed in the distal tip portion of tubular body 79 of handle part 77; for purposes of description and definition, however, portions 69, 69 will be considered as being L-shaped grooved portions.

Tie assembly 27 includes adjustment means for adjustably fixing tubular body 79 of handle part 77 at a selected location along shank part 71. The adjustment means preferably includes two series of spaced holes 91, 93 formed respectively in shank part distal portion 73 and handle part tubular body 79. The distance between adjacent holes 91 is preferably-shorter than the distance between adjacent holes 93, thereby effecting a vernier type adjustment between shank part 71 and handle part 77. A threaded fastener 95 is removably secured in a selected set of aligned holes 91, 93. Selected spacings between inward and outward form walls 11, 11' and a desired wall thickness of the concretewall may be obtained by inserting and securing threaded fastener 95 in selected sets of holes 91, 93.

The fixed elements of tie means 13 preferably additionally includes a short tubular spacer 97' having a pair of diametrically arranged aligned openings 99, 99". Spacer 97 is adapted to be disengageably retained in outward connector assembly 23' by the convergingly projecting dog portions 51', 51' of pins 37, 37'; tubular spacer 97 is secured in connector assembly 23' with dog portions 51', 51' convergingly projecting respectively through pair of aligned openings 99', 99'. Dog portions 51 51' of pins 37', 37' are longer than dog portions 51,

51 of pins 37, 37; dog portions '51, 51' are longer in order to project through spacer 97 and coactingly engage inward tie groove portion 69', 69 of tie assembly shank part 71.

The waler means of the form apparatus in addition to inward and outward waler members 31, 31' include inward and outward waler lobe means secured respectively to right and left connector halves 33, 35, 33', 35' of inward and outward connector assemblies 23, 23'. Waler lobe means of assembly 23 of inward wall 11 includes upwardly and downwardly projecting waler lobe portions 101, 103, 105, 107 projecting respectively from main portion 39, 43 of connector halves 33, 35; waler lobe means of assembly 23' of .outward wall 11' in like manner includes upwardly and downwardly projecting waler lobe portions 101', 103, 105', 107 projecting respectively from main portions 39', 43 of connector halves 33', 35'. Each waler lobe portion projects either upwardly or downwardly vertically and is olfset horizontally relative to the respective connector half main portion from which it is mounted; by way of explanation, it will be noted that under surface 109 of upper waler lobe portion 101 is laterally or horizontally offset from bottom surface 111 of right connector half 33 (see FIG. 3); the offset distance between surfaces 109 and 111 substantially equals the thickness of the longitudinally extending vertical leg portion of a respective waler member 31, 31'. Each waler lobe portion and each waler member include-s respectively coactingly engageable rectilinear tongue and groove means. By way of example, upper lobes 101, 101 secured respectively on inward and outward connector assemblies 23, 23 include respectively horizontally extending waler tongue portions 113, 113 projecting respectively from undersurfaces 109', 109 of the respective upper lobes. Longitudinally extending grooved portions 115, 115' formed respectively in the vertical short leg portions 117, 117 of inward and outward waler members 31, 31' are adapted to coactingly engage respectively tongue portions 113, 113'.

The waler means of the form apparatus has been described in a specific or basic manner as including a single inside waler member 31 and a single outside waler member 31'. It is, of course, apparent that such a basic configuration is not a typical arrangement and has been so described for clarity only. A more accurate presentation of a typical waler member arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; these figures show upper and lower inside and outside pairs of waler members and in addition to waler members 31, 31, illustrate also waler memblies 23, 25, and at the same walers 31 are secured in place as previously described. (FIG. 5 illustrates an inside connector at this step or stage.) The outside wall or a portion thereof may be formed by edgewise joining in like manner a required number of outward wall panels 17', 19', 21' together by connector assemblies 23', 2'5 and such assemblies which include the tubular tie means spacer members 97. The inward and outward walls 11, 11 are then parallel arranged and the tie assemblies 27, 29 are installed and rigidly tie the Walls 11, 11' together. Each tie assembly is installed by thrusting the shank part 71 thereof through a respective inward connector assembly 23, 2S and through corresponding semicircular recesses 65-, 67 and to axially displaced position with the distal tip portion of the shank part 71 engaging the spacer member 97' of a respective outside connector assembly 23', 25'. The tie assembly is then turnably I locked in place by simultaneously engaging inward and outward pairs of tie groove portions 69, 69, 6-9', 69' with .semblies 23, 23. Since the confrontingly arranged inward and outward wall panels are of the same width, there is a gap between vertical edge portions 119', 121 of outward panels 17', 19' when inward wall panel vertical edge portions 123, 125 are abuttingly engaged. A pair of vertical filler strips 127', 129' is preferably used to fill the gap between outside panel edge portions 119', 121'. In order to efiect the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8, the outward connector assembly fastening screws 53, 53 are secured respectively in slotted apertures or holes 59', 59' of outward connector assembly connector halves 33, 35'.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A form apparatus adapted to be assembled and disassembled and temporarily used in the construction of a concrete wall comprising an inward wall including right and a left planar ventical inward wall panels each having a vertical edge portion, and including at least one inward connector assembly for connecting said right and left inward wall panels together, said inward connector assembly being hinge-like and including right and left inward connector halves hingedly joined together, and right and left'inward fastener means removably fastening-said right and left inward connector halves respectively to-the vertical edge portions of said right and left inward wall panels; an outward wall including right and left planar vertical outward wall panels each having a vertical edge portion, and including at least one outward connector assembly for connecting said right and left outward wall panels together, said connector assembly being hingelike and including a right and a left connector half hingedly joined together, and right and left outward fastener means removably fastening said right and left outward connector halves respectively to the vertical edge portions of said'right and leftoutward wall panels; and tie means for releasably tying said inward and outward connector assemblies together and for releasably securing said inward and outward walls together in corresponding confrontingly spaced substantiallyrigid relation.

2. A form apparatus as defined in claim 1 which additionally includes inward and outward waler means for reinforcing the right and left panels respectively of said inward and outward walls and for reinforcing respectively each panel against deflection in a direction normal to the plane of each panel.

3. A form apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said tie means includes coactingly engageable fixed and movableelements, said fixed elements including aninward pair of coaxially arranged axially spaced tie dogs arranged substantially coincident with the hinge axis of said inward connector assembly and an outward pair of coaxially arranged axially spaced tie dogs arranged substantially coincident with the hinge axis of said outward connector assembly, said movable elements including an elongated tie assembly having a diametrically spaced inward pair of tie groove portions and a diametrically spacedoutward pair'of tie groove portions spaced longitudinally distant from'said inward pair of tie groove portions, and correspondingly arranged radiallyrelative to said inward pair of tie groove portions, each groove portion of said inward and outward pairs of tie groove portions being generally L-shaped and including a longitudinally extending entry portion. and a concentrically transversely extending lock portion, said tie means being operative by manually manipulating 'saidelongated tie assembly and by simultaneously releasably engaging respectively said inward and outward pairs of tie dogs with said inward and outward pairs of tie groove portions.

4. A form apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said elongated tie'assembly includes a rod-like shank part having a proximal and a distal portion and with said inward pair of the groove portions being formed in the tip portion of the distal portion of said shank part; a handle part including a tubular handle body having a proximal and a distal portion and with said outward pair of tie groove portions being formed in the tip portion of the distal portion of said tubular body, said handle part body being concentrically loosely fitted on the proximal portion of said shank part with the proximal and distal portions respectively of said shank part and said handle part tubular body being axially correspondingly arranged; and adjustment means for adjustably fixing said tubular handle body at a selected location along said shank part proximal portion.

5. A form apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said shankpart distal portion of said tie assembly is convergingly tapered toward the tip portion of said distal portion thereof and in which said tie means fixed elements additionally includes a short tubular spacer having a pair of diametrically arranged aligned openings and with said spacer being adapted to be disengageably retained in'said outward connector assembly in said inward wall with said inward pair of tie dogs convergingly projecting through respectively said pair of aligned openings. 6. A form apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said inward and outward waler means includes respectively generally vertical inward and outward waler lobe means secured respectively to said right and left connector halves of said inward and outward connector assemblies and includes at least an inward and an outward long straight waler member, said inward and outward waler means being operative with said inward and outward waler members respectively being removably engaged with said inward and outward waler lobe means.

7. A form apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said inward and outward waler lobe means and respectively said inward and outward waler members include co-actingly engageable rectilinear tongue and groove means for removably receiving said inward and outward waler members in engagement respectively with said inward and outward waler lobe means for permitting longitudinal adjustment and positioning of said waler members relative to said lobe means.

References Cited- FOREIGN PATENTS 1,208,214 2/ 1960 France.

J. SPE NCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. DE WALDEN W. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

